Chess Puzzle #16Jup — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e7; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/d4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; bishop c6; pawns a5/b4/d5/g5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen d7→e7, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight f5→e7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e7→c6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3qQ1p1/2b5/p2p1Np1/1p1P2P1/7P/PP4K1/8 b - - 0 41

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